Attic-mounted storage compartment and method therefor

ABSTRACT

An attic mounted storage compartment, comprising a housing having an opening at a lower portion thereof. The compartment is adapted to be mounted between two neighboring ceiling joists, so that storage items may be raised therethrough for positioning within the housing. The compartment includes a lift apparatus, which is used to lift storage items into the housing. The lift apparatus may be manually operated or motor driven. Two preferred types of storage items useable with the compartment are bicycles and storage boxes sized to conform to the general shape and size of the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to storage compartments and,more specifically, to a storage compartment mountable in an attic andadapted to permit a user to conveniently raise and lower stored itemsbetween the ground below the storage compartment and the storagecompartment.

[0003] 2. Background of the Invention

[0004] Attics are commonly used for storage. They can provide usefulspace to hold little-used items; however, access to an attic is notalways convenient. For example, it is often necessary to utilize aladder to enter an attic through an opening in a ceiling. This can bedifficult and, where the item to be stored is heavy and/or large,uncomfortable or even dangerous. The difficulty in obtaining safe andconvenient access to an attic causes the under-utilization of thisimportant household asset.

[0005] A need therefore existed for an attic-mounted storage compartmentand method that permits the safe and effective use of attic storagespace. The compartment and method should permit a user to place items instorage, and to remove them from storage, without the need for a ladderor otherwise having to physically enter the storage space. Thecompartment and method should preferably require only relatively minimalphysical exertion to utilize. The compartment and method should furtherpermit use in a manner consistent with the existing roof structure, andshould permit the insertion of storage items through the existingjoists. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other,related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide anattic-mounted storage compartment and method that permits the safe andeffective use of attic storage space.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide anattic-mounted storage compartment and method that permit a user to placeitems in storage, and to remove them from storage, without the need fora ladder or otherwise having to physically enter the storage space.

[0008] It is a still further object of the present invention to providean attic-mounted storage compartment and method that require onlyrelatively minimal physical exertion to utilize.

[0009] It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide anattic-mounted storage compartment and method that cooperates with theexisting roof structure, and that permits the insertion of storage itemsthrough the existing joists.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, anattic mounted storage compartment is disclosed. It comprises, incombination: a housing dimensioned to fit within an attic above ceilingjoists; wherein said housing has an opening at a lower portion thereof,wherein said opening has a width of two neighboring said ceiling joists;means for coupling said housing to said neighboring ceiling joists; alift apparatus positioned proximate an upper portion of said housing;and at least one lift line coupled at one end to said lift apparatus andbeing adapted to be coupled at a second end thereof to a storage item.

[0011] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, amethod for storing items in an attic mounted storage compartment isdisclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a housingdimensioned to fit within an attic above ceiling joists; wherein saidhousing has an opening at a lower portion thereof, wherein said openinghas a width of two neighboring said ceiling joists; coupling saidhousing to said neighboring ceiling joists; providing a lift apparatuspositioned proximate an upper portion of said housing; providing atleast one lift line coupled at one end to said lift apparatus and beingadapted to be coupled at a second end thereof to a storage item;coupling said second end of said at least one lift line to said storageitem; and lifting said storage item until said storage item is withinsaid housing.

[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following, more particular,description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the attic-mountedstorage compartment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a side, cut-away view of the attic-mounted storagecompartment of FIG. 1.

[0015]FIG. 3 is an end, cut-away view of the attic-mounted storagecompartment of FIG. 1.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the pulleyportion of the attic-mounted storage compartment of FIG. 1.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the pulley portion ofthe attic-mounted storage compartment of FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 6 is a side, cut-away view of another embodiment of theattic-mounted storage compartment of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 7 is an end, cut-away view of another embodiment of theattic-mounted storage compartment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Referring first to FIGS. 1-3 and 6-7, reference number 10 refersgenerally to an embodiment of an attic-mounted storage compartment(hereinafter “compartment 10”) of the present invention. The compartment10 generally comprises a storage housing 12, in which items to be storedwill be housed. The storage housing 12 has an opening 14, through whichstorage items are inserted. The housing may be made of any desiredmaterial, though a one-piece molded plastic construction will bepreferred—so as to impart durability without making the housing undulyheavy.

[0021] The opening 14 is preferably sized so that it is the width ofstandard ceiling joists 16. These are typically 1.5 inches wide andspaced 24 inches apart on center, though some have a different spacing,such as 16 inches on center. (Because the opening 14 should be fittedbetween the joists 16 as shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the externalwidth of the opening 14 should be approximately 22.5 inches.)Accordingly, the opening 14 may be provided in a variety of widths, toaccommodate the particular joist width present where installation is totake place. It may be possible to provide an opening 14 having a widthgreater than that of neighboring joists 16. With such a sizing, however,it will be necessary to appropriately support the ceiling structure asportions of the joists 16 are removed to make room for the opening 14,and it can be seen that such an installation will generally beless-convenient and thus less preferred. The height of the housing 12may be any size that will fit within the available attic space, though aheight of about three feet will be preferred for most applications.

[0022] The housing 12 should be coupled to the joists 16 in a securemanner. Such coupling is preferably accomplished through the insertionof a plurality of wood screws or bolts 18 through each of the housing 12and joists 16. Where heavier storage items may be positioned within thehousing 12, it may be desired to provide supplement bracing (not shown).

[0023] The compartment 10 further utilizes a lift apparatus 20, whichpermits a user to lift a storage item into the housing 12. Referringfirst to FIGS. 1-4 and 6, the lift apparatus 20 can be a pulley system.Where this type of mechanism is employed, it may be desired to provide apulley system having a locking feature, like that employed on windowblinds, so that a user may pull on a cord 22 to raise the storage itemand then, when the storage item is in the desired position within thehousing 12, move the cord 22 to the side so as to engage the lockingfeature and thereby secure the storage item in position.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 5, it may also be desired to provide a liftapparatus 20 driven by a motor 24, rather than by manually-appliedpulling force. Where a motor 24 is used to drive the lifting apparatus20, the motor 24 should be reversible, so as to be able to selectivelylift or lower the storage item. A remote control, switch (not shown) orother selector means will be provided, permitting a user to activate themotor 24 and to operate it in the desired direction and in the desiredamount. However driven, the lift apparatus 20 further comprises at leastone and preferably two lift lines 26.

[0025] It should be noted that while it is preferred to position thelift apparatus 20 within the housing 12, it would also be possible toposition the lift apparatus 20 outside and above the housing 12, withthe lift lines 26 passing through openings (not shown) in the housing12.

[0026] The compartment 10 is particularly well adapted for two storageuse. Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, the compartment 10 is can be used tolift and store a bicycle 30. For such use, it will generally be desiredto attach a hook 28 at the end of each lift line 26 to grasp the bicyclewheels 32. Thus, as shown herein, it will generally be desired to invertthe bicycle 30, attach each hook 28 to a bicycle wheel 32, and tothereafter lift the bicycle 30 until it is in the housing 12, andthereafter to secure it in position. When needed, the bicycle 30 islowered with the lift apparatus 20. Although not preferred, it wouldalso be possible to attach the lift lines 26 to another portion of thebicycle 30—such as the frame, handlebar and/or seat—when the bicycle 30is in an upright position, and in such configuration to then lift thebicycle 30.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 6-7, it may also be desired to utilize thecompartment 10 with a storage box 34. Preferably, the storage box 34 isconfigured to conform to the size and shape of the housing 12, so thatadvantage can be maximally taken of the storage space provided by thehousing 12. The box 34 is preferably open at an upper portion thereof,and is coupled to the lift lines 26. When it is desired to utilize thebox 34 for storage, it will be lowered to the ground, and storage itemswill be inserted through the opening in the box 34. When the storingprocess is completed, the box 34 will be raised until it is within thehousing 12, with the base of the box 34 acting as a covering for theopening 14.

[0028] While the invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formand details; may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. An attic mounted storage compartment comprising, incombination: a housing dimensioned to fit within an attic above ceilingjoists; wherein said housing has an opening at a lower portion thereof,wherein said opening has a width of two neighboring said ceiling joists;means for coupling said housing to said neighboring ceiling joists; alift apparatus positioned proximate an upper portion of said housing;and at least one lift line coupled at one end to said lift apparatus andbeing adapted to be coupled at a second end thereof to a storage item.2. The attic mounted storage compartment of claim 1 wherein said liftapparatus is comprises a manually-operated pulley.
 3. The attic mountedstorage compartment of claim 1 wherein said lift apparatus ismotor-driven.
 4. The attic mounted storage compartment of claim 1wherein said storage item is a bicycle.
 5. The attic mounted storagecompartment of claim 1 wherein said storage item is a box.
 6. The atticmounted storage compartment of claim 1 wherein said opening for saidhousing has an external width of approximately 22,5 inches and a heightof approximately 3 feet.
 7. A method for storing items in an atticmounted storage compartment, comprising the steps of: providing ahousing dimensioned to fit within an attic above ceiling joists; whereinsaid housing has an opening at a lower portion thereof, wherein saidopening has a width of two neighboring said ceiling joists; couplingsaid housing to said neighboring ceiling joists; providing a liftapparatus positioned proximate an upper portion of said housing;providing at least one lift line coupled at one end to said liftapparatus and being adapted to be coupled at a second end thereof to astorage item; coupling said second end of said at least one lift line tosaid storage item; and lifting said storage item until said storage itemis within said housing.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said liftapparatus is comprises a manually-operated pulley.
 9. The method ofclaim 7 wherein said lift apparatus is motor-driven.
 10. The method ofclaim 7 wherein said storage item is a bicycle.
 11. The method of claim7 wherein said storage item is an upwardly-open storage box.
 12. Themethod of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: providing two saidlift lines; providing a hook at each said second end of said two liftlines; coupling each said hook to a bicycle; and raising said bicycleuntil it is positioned within said housing.
 13. The method of claim 11further comprising the steps of: lowering said upwardly-open storagebox; positioning items within said upwardly-open storage box; raisingsaid upwardly-open storage box until it is positioned with said housing.14. The method of claim 7 wherein said opening for said housing has anexternal width of approximately 22.5 inches and a height ofapproximately 3 feet.